National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam

Which technique reinforces an unlikely behavior with a likely one?

1. Shaping

2. Premacking

3. Modeling

4. Positive reinforcement

The correct answer is: Premacking

The Premack principle is the technique that reinforces an unlikely behavior with a likely one. Essentially, it states that you can increase the frequency of a less preferred behavior by using a more preferred behavior as a reinforcer. For instance, if a person enjoys watching television (a likely behavior) but needs to complete a workout (an unlikely behavior), allowing them to watch their favorite show only after they finish exercising serves as an effective incentive. This approach capitalizes on the idea that individuals are more likely to engage in less desirable tasks if they know it will lead to a more enjoyable activity. In contrast, shaping involves gradually reinforcing behaviors that are closer to the desired behavior, modeling is about demonstrating behaviors for others to imitate, and positive reinforcement focuses on strengthening a behavior by providing a reward following that behavior. While these techniques are valuable in behavior change, the unique aspect of Premack is its strategic use of a favored activity to promote compliance with a less favored one.